Posted by
Sara on
Friday, July 25th, 2014 with
6 Comments
Ah, Mexican food. When you find a good Mexican food delivery place near your office, there’s no better source of midday comfort during a stressful day than the arrival of a shiny, foil-wrapped burrito and a plastic-cup rainbow of salsa, sour cream, and guacamole alongside. Unless, of course, it’s the crispy tortilla chips and gooey queso dip that you share with your coworkers before the main meal.
But, the feeling after you’ve polished off the last few bites of your giant burrito — because what’s the point in saving that end that’s mostly tortilla, anyway, right? — is not comforting at all. In fact, it’s downright exhausting. The momentary comfort and pleasure that relieved your stress have now been replaced with a weary desire for a couch, a nap and maybe a looser waistband… not exactly the recipe for a positive, productive afternoon.
It doesn’t have to be this way. Mexican food is not inherently unhealthy. Grilled meats, sautéed vegetables, bright flavors, herbs, and spices — there are so many Mexican dishes that are just as delicious and much better for you than the sauce-smothered burritos and enchiladas most of us equate with Mexican food delivery.
Tostadas are a healthier alternative to heavier Mexican fare.
Image source: Flickr user ilovememphis
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Posted by
Sara on
Thursday, July 24th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Admin Assistance: 7 Gluten-Free Whole Grains for Business Lunches (No Special Plate Required) Comments
“Catering planner” probably isn’t in the job description of many administrative assistants, but in small to mid-sized companies, we all know it happens anyway. Business lunches, meeting snacks, group delivery orders, lunch-and-learns: there are plenty of occasions where an outside catering company isn’t required, but someone has to get food into the office! And anyone who has filled that role knows that planning meals for a group can be a juggling act — especially thanks to the proliferation of dietary restrictions in today’s culture.
Accommodating special requests (vegetarian/vegan/paleo/gluten-free/low-carb/you-name-it) can make the simple act of ordering lunch for your colleagues quite the complicated equation… especially if your company is zeroing in on workplace wellness and has guidelines for serving healthy meals in the office.
And focusing on healthy dining — usually described as containing whole grains, lean proteins, and vegetables — is an admirable goal, and one that many companies are adopting as part of a workplace nutrition policy. But what happens when an office nutrition goal conflicts with an employee’s dietary restriction?
Gluten-free whole grains – like quinoa – can be a natural part of your business lunches and office meals – no special plates required.
Image source: Flickr user MiramKato
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Posted by
Sara on
Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 with
Comments Off on 4 Healthy Office Snacks that Can Be Easy (and Detrimental) to Overeat Comments
Fresh juice during a breakfast meeting. Whole-grain crackers mid-morning. Almonds a few hours after lunch. Congratulations – you have healthy office snacks down pat.
Depending, of course, on how many crackers, almonds, and liquified fruits you’re eating every day. Because even when it comes to light snacking on healthy foods, portion size matters… and can even be the difference between maintaining a healthy weight or packing on a few extra pounds.
Don’t get me wrong — snacking can definitely be part of a healthy eating plan, and it’s especially important to keep healthy office snacks readily available. If you don’t, the vending machine and candy bowls are all too ready to take their place. But, just like you already know you probably shouldn’t polish off that entire takeout container of brown rice (even though it’s a whole grain), you should be aware of how to serve yourself actual, snack-size portions.
Even healthy snacks like apples and peanut butter are easy to overeat.
Image source: Flickr user maryamandathompson
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Posted by
Sara on
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014 with
4 Comments
Everyone from CNN’s Anthony Bourdain to the leading restaurant industry blogs agree: Peruvian food is having a moment. And if your office is stuck in a lunch rut (no offense, pizza, and Thai food), Peruvian may be the new take on food delivery you had no idea you were craving!
What is Peruvian food, exactly? Well, it’s fresh — really fresh. Raw-fish-fresh, as featured in the national dish, ceviche. It’s also hearty and traditional, with another iconic entree (pollo a la brasa) that’s essentially rotisserie chicken served with French fries. And it’s flavorful, with fiery aji chiles appearing in many forms in many dishes — but rarely overwhelming the palate.
Basically, Peruvian food is a global mash-up. It makes sense that this diverse country – which includes the Andes mountains, the Pacific coast, and the Amazon rainforest — would have a wide range of ingredients and cooking styles. But then, there’s the history: Spanish colonists in the 15th and 16th centuries, who brought African slaves, who were later replaced by Chinese laborers, who were then followed by waves of Japanese, Italian, and French immigrants in the 19th century… that’s a lot of culinary traditions meeting in one place. And the reason why it’s so hard to pigeonhole Peruvian food. There’s a lot more to it than ceviche and roasted chicken.
Lomo saltado is a beef stir-fry… and a delicious result of Chinese influence on Peruvian cuisine.
Image source: Flickr user djjewelz
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Posted by
Sara on
Monday, July 21st, 2014 with
6 Comments
Sticking to healthy diet can be challenging — especially when it comes to the office lunch. Group takeout orders, catered breakfast meetings, pizza Fridays… there are seemingly endless temptations to stray from a diet plan during the course of a typical workday.
One solution that many office workers swear by? Eating the same healthy office lunch. Every single day.
Does having the same lunch every day lead to healthy eating burnout?
Image source: Flickr user slushpup
It may sound crazy to those of us who love trying new cuisines (Korean takeout, anyone?) or chatting over a spread of tapas-style appetizers with our coworkers: finding a favorite salad or turkey sandwich, and making that your office lunch every day. But to people who have a hard time saying no to a second slice, or won’t be able to pass up adding cheese and sour cream to a burrito, sticking to a tried-and-true lunch makes things easier. After all, if you don’t allow yourself any choices, you won’t make the wrong one.
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Posted by
Sara on
Friday, July 18th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Freshen Up Your Conference Corporate Catering Table with Greenless Salads Comments
When you’re trying to plan healthy meals for a conference, there’s one simple tip that can help promote balanced eating at the corporate catering table: start with salad. A big bowl of leafy greens right up front will prompt attendees to fill their empty plates with a healthy salad, and by the time they get to the meat dish or dessert section, there won’t be as much room left.
Great – for one day. But if you’re orchestrating a multi-day event, what about day two? Or even day three? The same leafy lettuce that was a refreshing start at the first lunch will quickly become a passed-over obligation if it keeps showing up at the head of the table.
So what’s a health-conscious meeting planner to do? On days two and three, skip the leafy greens altogether and serve a lettuce-free salad at the front of the line. It will help reach the same goal (attendees will fill their plate with vegetables first) without boring your conference attendees.
Need some salad inspiration? From Italian menus to Mexican fare, there are plenty of greenless salads to start your lunch off on the right foot. Here are seven of our favorites that deserve a place at the head of your corporate catering table:
Watermelon & feta salad makes a refreshing alternative to leafy greens.
Image source: Flickr user Kurman Communications, Inc.
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Posted by
Sara on
Thursday, July 17th, 2014 with
8 Comments
Early breakfast meetings are not a favorite of most employees. Getting less sleep, disrupting a normal routine, perhaps drinking too much coffee – not exactly the ideal way to start a productive day. But, sometimes they’re unavoidable: a decision has to be made, a deadline needs to be met, and first thing in the morning is the only time to get it done (usually, before the clients come in!).
And that’s where the actual breakfast part of the equation becomes crucial. If you’re asking your team to come in early, a little thought and creativity in the menu planning can go a long way. Make it worth their while to get out of bed an hour earlier: replace that boring plate of blueberry muffins or the box of sugary donuts (which are like little ticking time bombs of blood sugar crashes) with one of these amazing, global-inspired dishes. Having an interesting breakfast to look forward to makes it a little easier to get out of bed — and lets your employees know you appreciate their extra efforts!
Fruit-filled breakfast pierogi are a tasty alternative to boring old blueberry muffins.
Image source: Flickr user kurmanphotos
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Posted by
Sara on
Wednesday, July 16th, 2014 with
2 Comments
Summertime at the office might be the hardest time of year to stay focused: between sunny weather, people coming and going from vacations, and just long, hot days, there are plenty of challenges to keeping up the daily routine. And while it might seem counterintuitive, providing plenty of group breaks and last-minute office parties might be just the ticket to keeping up productivity!
It’s true: research has shown that taking breaks is good for employee productivity, providing a chance for workers to mentally reset and recharge. Even more, group breaks offer a team the chance to reinforce social bonds and boost camaraderie, whether they need to vent about a difficult client or just voice to a sympathetic ear that it’s tough to come back from vacation to a full inbox.
Strawberry shortcake is a perfect summer dessert for an impromptu office party!
Image source: Flickr user misscrabette
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Posted by
Sara on
Tuesday, July 15th, 2014 with
2 Comments
Trying to eat healthy at work can be challenging enough when you have total control over the food in front of you… but when it’s a group takeout day, or a catered lunch is provided, making smart choices gets even trickier. And no cuisine prevents more temptations than Italian: hearty portions of pastas, savory meat dishes piled with cheese, and creamy sauces make it seem like there’s no possible way to eat healthy on Italian food delivery day.
Bruschetta is a fantastic choice for an Italian appetizer.
Image source: Flickr user naotakem
But that’s ignoring the inherent health benefits of many authentic Italian ingredients: fresh green vegetables, juicy tomatoes, simple olive oil, and flavorful herbs. There are definitely healthy choices to make when it’s time to order Italian, and we’ve compiled a few basic guidelines to help steer you toward a meal that won’t derail your diet — along with sample dishes to keep an eye out for on the menu:
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Posted by
Sara on
Monday, July 14th, 2014 with
Comments Off on Celebrate Bastille Day With These 6 French-Inspired Office Meals Comments
Every July 14th, residents of France — and Francophiles worldwide — celebrate Bastille Day. The anniversary of the beginning of the French revolution with the storming of the Bastille, the annual holiday has been celebrated since the late 1800s, and it’s the perfect opportunity to arrange a little workplace party or luncheon. Even if none of your employees are French themselves, any holiday presents a chance to treat your team to a special lunch, take an hour or so to socialize as a group, and continue to create the kind of fun and lively culture that will help keep your workers engaged!
And staging a French fete doesn’t have to be a complicated affair. We’ve compiled a list of delivery-friendly office meals that you can simply order from a local bistro for your team, keeping the day low-stress and deliciously low-key— although if you want to host a French-inspired waiter race, a preferred Bastille Day celebration in hundreds of cities worldwide, that’s up to you.
The croque monsieur is a crowd-friendly favorite for French-themed office meals!
Image source: Flickr user snowpea&bokchoi
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